Family History Writing Challenge Day 14 to 26 Time Challenges

Family history writing challenge days 14 through 26 have not been very productive with writing my family story of Joseph Cheuvront and his family.
Working one weekend at a sports show and then life has caused me to delay getting back to writing.
Writing our family history has to be part of every day if we want to accomplish their and our story. Even if I had set just a few minutes a day I would of gotten further than I have.
No matter what, I am further along with my story than I was before the start of the month.

I have enjoyed what I have written and will continue with the Cheuvront story, because it is my families story.
I have started with Joseph's dying words, then gone into some of his life. There is much more to write there. I have researched some of the history at that time and how life was for the wife of the family.
 I then jumped to the last Cheuvront in my direct family line my great great grandmother Alta 1848 to 1937. I will write more on her life and than work backwards to Joseph's last days.

This picture is from the Schaffer Pioneer Cemetery history book. My Alta is back row on the right hand side. Sitting in front row is parents Lemuel and Mary Rouse Cheuvront. Back row on left is Sarah Ann Cheuvront Metheny and brother Thomas Jefferson Cheuvront. Sister Lourinda had passed away when picture was taken.
Are your writing your families story yet? If not why not start, even if it is a few words each week it will be the start of something to pass on to your family

Thanks for stopping by.. Grace

Family History Writing Challenge Day 9 to 13 Life Gets In The Way

My family history writing challenge is not going as smoothly as I had hoped.  I am having writers block and life is getting in the way of sitting down and just working on Joseph's story.
Every day we are busy working at finding treasures to resell or working at reselling them.  I have not made it a priority to find a few minutes to just sit and work on my story.

Yesterday I did take a few minutes at McDonalds before going to the auction. I added more to Joseph's last day that I had found at ancestry.
Just keep plugging away as best I can is the way I have to go. Thanks for stopping by to read, if you think we may be related let me know.  Grace

WRITING CHALLENGE JOSEPH CHEUVRONT'S STORY VIRGINIA LATE 1770'S Day 6 7 and 8

I have been busy writing a story about my 5th great grandfather Joseph Cheuvront and his family. To add some depth I wanted to get an idea to what life was like in Virginia during the 1775 period to the early 1800's. I found a wonderful article on the Virginia Colony.  By the time my ancestors came to Virginia it was one of the first thirteen states but I am sure life had not changed much in the way life was lived. 
The following was copied from the site. I will incorporate the following into my story of Joseph and his family to add substance. Click on the link at the bottom to find more information if interested.

While life was difficult for everybody living in the Virginia Colony, this was especially true for women, who married young (16 was a popular age for marriage) and had an average of eight children. Childbirth was one of the main causes of death for women as well, as there were no drugs to stop bleeding and most births were attended by midwives or even family members rather than doctors. Once married, women usually spent their lives caring for their families and preparing or storing food for the winter.

Medical care in the Virginia Colony was a real problem. There were very few doctors there at the time and not only was the care expensive, but it was also mostly inadequate. Folk medicine was widespread at the time, and most doctors use leeches to treat a variety of problems, from cancer to common infections (antibiotics were not known at the time). As time went by, many doctors incorporated the use of certain indigenous herbs, like snakeroot, to treat conditions they had no other medication for. Calomel, a drug based on mercury, was popular, although it caused lots of poisonings and killed more patients than it actually helped. There was no anesthesia available and surgery was actually prohibited by the church, so doctors avoided it, even in cases of life and death. Diphtheria, malarial fever, yellow fever and tuberculosis were all common diseases in Colonial Virginia.

The road system in the Virginia Colony and its surroundings was poorly developed. When travel was necessary, people would use a horse or take off on foot, but this was mainly avoided in winter because the conditions were too difficult and too risky for most colonists to attempt. Most people traveled by boat if the distances were long or time was an issue.

The social life of those living in the colony included folk music and reading as the main forms of entertainment. Cider and whiskey were considered common drinks and served along with everyday foods, including family dinners, afternoon teas and BBQs organized by the town, church or close friends. People often socialized in groups or as a family, rather than separately.

Basically everything used in daily life was manufactured at home. This included candles, clothing, all metal and wood artifacts for the home and farms and even school supplies. Silver and iron were used for practically everything, from shoeing horses to making dinner dishes


Read more: What Was Life Like in the Virginia Colony? | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_4588658_was-life-like-virginia-colony.html#ixzz1lo28N9OC

Writing Challenge My Family Day 5

Writing Challenge My Family Day 5

Day 5 was Super Bowl Sunday, hubby and I are not really into football but we were invited to son’s house for some good grub and I do love to watch the commercials. We left at half time and headed home to watch something else that was on our watch list. If I told you what we wanted to see on TV you would scratch your head and go " You got to be kidding".

To keep my Internet time in control we headed to McDonald’s after church and spent several hours there. I did not go much further in time but instead added depth to what I had written. I separated the sections of my writing more so I can see what I am doing. So far I have 2747 words written so I was able to add a bit over 500 words. I am enjoying what I am doing with putting down Joseph Cheuvront's story on paper and look forward to continue with his family.

WRITING CHALLENGE MY FAMILY DAY 4

Writing Challenge My Family Day 4

Today I spent my time writing at McDonalds again. I am up to 2223 words in my story. Lots of editing needs to be done but that will be done with the second draft. I spent time adding some history to my story yesterday so did not really get past the year 1802. I feel like I am back in school and studying history except this time it is in context with my family’s history. I spent my time reading about the border warfare or the history of the settlement by the whites in northwest Virginia. On my to do list is to find a copy of the Chronicles of Border Warfare: the Colonial & Indian Wars of the Early American Frontier 1742-1795 written by Alexander Scott Withers. After I finished with my daily writing I spent time on the Internet using Swagsearch to search for more history that would fit into my story. I think today went well with my writing. Will be interesting to see where day 5 takes me. One thing I have learned is I did not do my writing outline with enough details. It was to basic to start. Will do different the next time I write a family story.

WRITING CHALLENGE MY FAMILY DAY 3

Writing Challenge My Family Day 3
Today’s writing was this evening in the semi quiet of my office. Television is on but I am totally tuned out to it. My goal is to write for about thirty to sixty minutes. Once again I have added another 500 or so words and am adding basic history to my Joseph. We are up to 1800 and living in Virginia. From 1777 to 1800 Joseph and Elizabeth have married and had 11 children. 1800 comes and Typhoid fever attacks not only wife Elizabeth but also one son and another son dies from an infection from a cut. Day four when I write I will add more to these years.

WRITING CHALLENGE MY FAMILY DAY 2

Writing Challenge My Family Day 2

Day 2 of my family writing challenge was spent in McDonalds as I sipped a coke. They have wireless internet so I am able to write and not use up my air time. Some months I never come near my limit and last month I was so close to going overage that I was rarely on the Internet at home. So if I was not at McDonald’s I was at the library that also gives us free Internet connection. I was able to write about 500 words and brought my Joseph from France to England to New York. What I am writing is a rough draft and I look forward to adding more to it as time allows. Basically all I have is just the data that can be found in the records. As I go I look forward to adding depth to my story of Joseph and his family.

Writing Challenge My Family History Day 1

Yesterday was the first day of the writing challenge. February 1st has come and gone
I had chosen my ancestor as my 5th great grandfather Joseph Cheuvront.
I had written out my story idea in bullet form with planning to start my story with Joseph arriving in New York in 1773.
But after the challenge came to write our first sentence, I decided to begin with the day Joseph was dying. I had found his last words at the National Archives and remember to this day the feeling I had as I read them.
 I wrote that first sentence the last night of January and when I was done I had written over 250 words.

On Saturday, 24, 1832 his speech failing, he motioned for a slate, and wrote on it, " I want a plain coffin, and to be buried in a winding sheet, and brother George Collins to preach at my funeral." As he handed it to one of his sons he said, " I want you to see to it. "
Day 1 came and wanted to find just the right time to start writing. I wanted time that I could be quiet and just think and write. That afternoon I sat and wrote out some of the story of his last day and his last words.  I then went back to France and Joseph as a young teen, I wrote how I saw him physically and how he probably was and felt coming to grips with religion and the choices he wanted to make with his life. Day 1 was over and I had a total of 793 words written.
Day 2 is here of my family writing challenge and it is time to be quiet and get back to my story.

Grace

Joseph Cheuvront Leaving London 1773 For America On The Virginia

As I posted last night I have joined the Family History Writing Challenge. I decided to start with one of my 5th great grandfather. He is one of my grandfathers that I was able to copy material from at the National Archives.
The start of my story will be his journey on the Virginia after departing London.  Last night I spent time researching the Virginia, I wanted to find out what I could about this ship that crossed the Atlantic with Joseph.
My questions are how large was the Virginia? What were the conditions of the trip ?
 How long did it take to cross the Atlantic? The passenger list of the "Virginia"  has it sailing was Dec 18 through the 22 of 1773, arriving in New York.

 Here is a copy of the Passenger List of the Ship
"VIRGINIA"
sailing Dec. 18-22, 1773
(transcribed from a photcopy of an unknown published source)
Name of passenger, age, occupation, and where from
(all the passengers were listed as indentured servants for four years)

---

Ashburne,Wm., 28 cutler (knife-sharpener or seller) London Auber, Peter, 26 dyer (textile dye specialist) London Beate(?), Lewis Pack, 28 farmer London Boyd(?), Wm., 26 husbandman (tenant farmer) Ireland Brandes, Henry, 33 cordwainer (leather worker) London Burgess, Wm., 34 weaver London Cagaux, Peter, 26 cooper London Challe (Ohalle, Ohalie?) Peter, 23 blacksmith London Cheauvant, Jos., 20 gilder (applies gold leaf) London Chegailles(?), Alex. 21 hatter (hatmaker), painter London Chevaillier(?), Ant., 21 brickmaker Westminster Dane, George, 33 cabinetmaker London Dawson, John, 22 ostler(?) Surrey Disbonne, Chas., 30 taylor London Fleming, Jas., 26 husbandman (tenant farmer) Cornwall Fogg, Wm., 23 blacksmith Warwickshire Garth, John, 20(?) sawyer (saws lumber into boards) London Harris, Richd. 36 gardener London Harris, Sarah 21 semptress (seamstress) London Hill, Thos., 35 schoolmaster Essex Howard, Thos., 26 surgeon London Elizabeth his wife, 23 London Isaac, Jos., 19 perukemaker (wigmaker) London Jameson, (?), 21 husbandman (tenant farmer) London Ketler, (?) Carl, 21 taylor London Kilman, Wm., 23 blacksmith Scotland Lawrence, Antho., 36 cabinetmaker Leek, (Jonathan?), 17 whitesmith (tinsmith) Worcestor Macquet, Peter, 24 locksmith London McCloud, (Jonathan?) 28 laborer Lodon Nuir, Alexd., 21 weaver Scotland Oakeley, John, 19 perukemaker (wigmaker) London O'Brian, Arch., 24 butcher Dublin Ockershanson(?), (Jonathan?), 25 baker London Ogelvie, Robt., 19 husbandman (tenant farmer) London Onwin, (Jonathan?), 17 baker Greenwich Parker, Wm., 22 edge tool maker Deptford Parrott, Benjm., 32 carpenter London Pemberton(?), Thos., 20 bricklayer Chester Smith, Benjm., 24 bricklayer Westminster Stevenson, Jos., 25 carpenter; joyner (skilled carpntr)Westminster Thomas, Richd., 35 haberdasher London Tudor, Robt., 18 leather dresser London Weatherfield, (Jonathan?), 20 blacksmith London Welch, John, 31 malster (brewer, malt seller) Surrey Wood, Thos., 23 schoolmaster Surrey Yeates, John, 24 weaver Westminster Young, John, 21 blacksmith London

 I found an interesting story while searching through Swag Bucks about the Virginia.  On November 7, 1774, residents of York County threw a “tea party,” reminiscent of the Boston Tea Party of 1773. They boarded the " Virginia and threw off some of its tea. That was less than a year after Joseph traveled on the same ship from London.
So much history happened during this period of Joseph arriving in America.

This is the beginning of my ideas for the begining of my history on Joseph. Hope that you come along as I learn more and write about my ancestor.

If you think you may be related to me through Joseph or any one else listed on the side bar please let me know. Grace

I Have To Begin Some Where ~ Starting The Family History Writing Challenge

I have decided it is time to put some of the information I have on my ancestors into print. Time to write my first story. My first piece of family history. After over 15 years of collecting census reports, on line stories that have been passed down and any other small piece of information found I will begin.

February there is a writing challenge out in the blog world. A Family History Writing Challege.
I have decided to take this challenge, to make it a goal to write for the next 29 days. Starting on the 1st of February I will write, whether it is 250 words or 500 words I will write every day.

I have decided to start with my 5th great grandfather Joseph Cheuvront.

What has stopped me from putting my family story into words?   FEAR that is what.  After all I am not a writer.  I do write on my blog but that is for fun, to help me learn and practice my writing. A place to go out and find others who are interested in my love of genealogy.

My first story may not be great or even good but it will be my story of the Cheuvront family. It will be the first chapter of a great pioneering family. It starts with Joseph and ends with Alta Cheuvront who then marries a Coleman.  I have always been intrigued with Alta one of my name sakes

But I am getting ahead of myself. For now I will concentrate on Joseph story.

Interested in joining us on the writing challenge please do. Just go ahead and sign up .

My first question was where do I start?  I just finished reading Lynn's post on Do you have a story plan ?   Simple easy way to take a look at it. 

I have listed my bullet points on Joseph as follows

• Joseph arrives on the Virginia from France December 1773 from London
• The birth of John in France 2nd of February 1757
• The first four years in America
• Marries Elizabeth daughter of John or Moses Ellsworth
• The birth of his 11 children between 1777 to 1798
• 1780 enlisting in the Revolutionary war and continuing until the surrender of Cornwallis on the 19th of October 1781
• Elizabeth dies of Typhoid Fever the 18th of August 1800
• The story of being a Methodist minister from about 1780 and for most of his life.  A piece of his last words were that he served the Methodists as " exhorter, class leader, steward, local preacher, traveling preacher and presiding elder.
• Remarries in 1802 and has four more children with Sarah Bollen
• The next years with family, enjoying his family, his country and preaching.
• The last days of Joseph, his last words and his will.  Joseph passes away on the 15th of June 1832 in Good Hope, West Virginia.

So this is my story line, my first story line. Where it will lead me I do not know but I will share some of my challenge with you over the month of February.
Thanks for stopping by, if you think we may be related through Joseph or any other relatives listed on the side bar I hope that you will contact me.

Grace